Fire Escape Planning

Every home should have a fire escape plan. Escaping from a home fire depends not only on your smoke alarms but on the plan you and your family have developed and practiced in advance. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) reports that, in 2013, there were an estimated 369,500 reported home structure fires and 2,755 associated civilian deaths in the United States. The time for a safe escape can be limited to as little as 1-2 minutes
after you hear the smoke alarm.

Fires can spread quickly through homes
trapping residents. Everyone in the family needs to come together and
make a plan, including knowing all exits and escape routes, locations of
smoke alarms, and a family meeting place outside of the home.

You can download an escape planning grid
from NFPA’s website to help draw out an escape plan which is an
especially good way to help children visualize the concept in a
non-threatening way.
In addition, the following tips and tools from NFPA can simplify your planning: